Comments

Bivol's reputation as a devastating puncher has suffered recently, because he couldn't stop Chilemba or Pascal, but they have great chins, and just because he doesn't hit as hard as Kovalev, doesn't mean he can't punch, and I definitely think he'll stop Joe Smith, Smith has a decent chin, but he has been stopped, and Bivol has good power, great output.

I think Bivol can out box Smith easily, Smith can punch himself, Bivol's chin is questionable, he's been hurt, but not badly, hasn't been down, but Smith has 20 KOs in 24 wins, knocked out Fonfara in 1 round, has stopped limited but durable opponents like Yasin Rashid, Michael Gbenga. Smith has to fight his fight, try to find the chin, if he has any chance of winning.

I think this is an easier fight for Bivol than his last 3 fights, I think Smith will try his best, soak up Bivol's power for maybe 6 rounds, keep throwing back, will land a few good shots, but he won't win a round, will be out classed from the start, and maybe in round 8, when Smith has had it physically beaten out of him, taken a lot of shots to head and body, round after round, Bivol will inflict a sustained beating, get the stoppage.

Not a bad performance from Bivol, but not good, I think he fights too often, from last March to this March, 4 world title fights, that is very often, he doesn't take damage, the fights are one sided, but to be at his best, to be focused on his opponent, he needs to take more time between fights. I expected Bivol to be more aggressive, attack the body more, early, he was hurt bad by Smith, but only from an after the bell shot.

I still think Bivol is the best at 175, even if he didn't stop Smith or shut him out, he still only lost a round or two, won a landslide. I think at 168, Bivol would be even more dominant, as long as he can make 168, isn't drained.